Apparatus for handling well pipe



July 5, 1949. n. F. JoHNs APPARATUS FOR HANDLING WELL PIPE Filed Feb.22, 1945 `2 Sheets-Sheet 1 fos/A- lwmtoz July 5, 1949. n. F. Jol-ms2,474,846

l APPARATUS FOR HANDLING WELL PIPE Filed Feb. 22, 1945 `2 Sheets-Sheet 2Patented July 5, K1949 APPARATUSFOR HANDLING WELL PIPE Don F. Johns,HuntingtonBeach, Calif., aselgnol' to Byron Jackson Co., Vernon, Calif.,a corporation of Delaware Application February 22, 1945, Serial No.579,279

Claims. (Cl. 294-82) This invention relates generally to the art ofhandling well pipe such as drill pipe and well casing, and is directedparticularly to a novel t apparatus for handling such pipe while it issuspended in a well derrick.

In the operation of drilling a deep well such as an oil well, the stringof drill pipe is periodically withdrawn from the well to replace theWorn drilling bit. fThis involves separating the drill string intostands of two or more sections, ranging from 60 to 120 feet in length,depending on the height of the derrick, and racking the stands inupright position in the derrick. In accordance with standard practice,the main hoisting equipment which is used for raising or lowering thedrill string in the well is also used to support a broken-out standwhile it is being racked in the derrick. The racking operation, and alsothe reverse operation of picking up the stand from the racked position,requires that the elevator, or other tool by which the pipe issupported, be shifted laterally into an oiset position with respect tothe center line of the derrick. It is lfor this reason that anarticulated connection is provided between the traveling block and theelevator, by means of the usual long elevator links and the hook.

It is characteristic of the present-day method of handling `drill pipethat all operations are performed in sequence, the arrangement beingsuch that it is impossible to perform some operations simultaneouslywith others. Thus, when coming out of the hole, the string of drill pipeis pulled upwardly until a complete stand is above the rotary table, andthe string is supported in the table by the usual slips. Tongs are thenapplied to the joint and the joint is broken and spun out, whereupon theseparated stand -is swung to one side of the derrlck while beingsupported by the traveling block, hook, links and elevator, and isracked in upright position in the derrick. The above-mentioned equipmentis at that time in the upper part of the derrick, close to the upper endthereof, and must be lowered the full length of a stand before beingagain connected to the drill string to repeat the operation.

, When running the drill string back into the well the above sequence ofoperations is reversed. The empty block, hook, links and elevator areraised to the upper portion of the derrick and the elevator is swung toone side and latched about one of the stands of pipe. The stand is thenpicked up and swung to the center of the nected to the upper end of thestring of pipe supported in vthe table. After the Joint is made up, theslips are removed and the string of pipe is lowered in the lwell untilthe upper end of the newly-added stand is just above the table. Theslips are again set, the elevator is detached from the pipe and theempty elevator, links, hook and block are hoisted in the derrlck to pickup another stand from the rack.

It is thus apparent that the standard system employed at present notonly is time-consuming because of the sequential performance of thevarious steps of a cycle of operations, but it also requires the use ofequipment of considerable overall length between the traveling block andthe elevator. In a drilling rig equipped to drill wells to a depth of10,000 feet,` the overall length of a conventional hook-up of travelingblock, drilling hook and links is approximately twenty feet and hence,when allowance is made for clearances and for picking up the stand aboutsix feet off the oor, it is apparent that the vertical elearance in thederrick between the floor and the crown block must be at. least thirtyfeet greater than the length of a stand.

It is a general object of this invention to provide novel and improvedapparatus for handling well pipe in a derrick whereby the operation maybe expediated by performing certain of the steps simultaneously, andalso whereby the overall length of the equipment used may be verymaterially reduced.

It is another object of this invention to provide apparatus for handlingwell pipe in a derrick, wherein the main hoisting equipment is used onlyfor supporting the string of pipe in the Well, the separated stands ofpipe being handled by auxiliary, light-duty equipment.

A further object of this invention is to provide a novel and improvedtraveling block which is capable of traversing the length of a stand ofpipe while the latter is suspended in the center of the derrick.

A still further object is to provide a novel traveling block having awell pipe elevator or other pipe supporting device directly associatedtherewith.

It is still another object of this invention to provide, in conjunctionwith a. novel traveling block capable of traversing the length of astand of pipe while the latter is suspended in the center of a derrick,`other auxiliary supporting means for the stand of pipe for supportingthe pipe while the traveling block is traversing its length, and

derrick and the Joint at its lower end is confor transferring the standof pipe between the 'center of the derrick and the racking platform.

My improved apparatus comprises in general a novel traveling blockhaving a central vertical opening therethrough, of a size to accommodatethe well pipe and any lateral protuberances thereon such as tool jointsand protector sleeves. An elevator or other means for supporting thedrill pipe is directly associated with the traveling block, and mayeither be built into the block as a component part thereof or may beattached thereto at either end of the central opening. Auxiliaryapparatus is also provided for engaging the upper end of the stand ofpipe and transferr-ing it between the racking platform and the center ofthe derrick, and for supporting the stand while the joint is being madeup or broken out.

In the useof the novel apparatus when coming out of the hole, theelevator or other pipe supporting means associated with the travelingblock is disconnected from the pipe lby the derrick man as soon as theweight of thestring of pipe is transferred from the elevator to theslips mounted in the table, and the empty elevator and block isimmediately allowed to descend in the derrick, with the stand of pipedisposed inV the central opening in the block. In the meantime, theauxiliary supporting and transfer mechanism, which is mounted in theupper portion of the derrick within easy reach of the derrick man, isconnected tothe upper end of the stand as soon as the block and elevatorstarts its descent. During the descent of the empty block and elevator,the joint between the lower end of the stand and the pipe string isbroken out, and hence as soon as the block and elevator reach a positionclose to the table the separated stand is picked up by the auxiliarytransfer device and is moved t one side and racked. The time normallywasted while waiting for the empty block and elevator to'descend is notlost in this case, since this step takes place while the joint is beingbroken. l

When running the string of pipe back in the hole, the hollow block andelevator are positioned close to the table, with the block telescopedover the upper end of the pipe protruding above the table. A stand ofpipe is picked up from the pipe rackv by the transfer device, operatedby the derrick man, and is swung over to the center of the derrick andlowered into the central open'- ing in the traveling block. The blockand elevator are then hoisted in the derrick, sliding upwardly over thestand of pipe.` As soon as it clears the lowermost joint, the spinningrope or other spinning means is applied and the joint is spun up andthen made up tightly with the tongs. Thisv operation requires about thesame length of 'time that is required for the empty block and elevatorto travel up to the upper end of the stand. As the block approaches theupper end of the stand the derrick man disconnects the transfer devicefrom the stand, and closes the elevator or other supporting meansassociated with the block. The pipe string is then lowered in the welluntil the block and elevator are just above the table. While the pipestring is being lowered, the derrickman attaches the transfer device toanother stand. and as soon as the block reaches its lowermost positiontne next stand is picked up from the rack and stabbed into the openingin the block. The sequence of steps is then repeated. As in coming outof the hole, no time is lost during travel of the empty block andelevator, vsince the joint is being made up while this takes place.

From the foregoing general description of the apparatus and its uses, itwill be apparent that the invention possesses many advantages. Onemanner in which it may be 'put to practical use will be evident from thefollowing detailed description of an embodiment thereof, reference beinghad to the accompanying drawings wherein: g

Fig. 1 is av view, partly in side elevation and partly incentralvertical section, of a combined block and elevator constituting one formof an essential element of the invention;

Fig. 2 is in part an end elevation as viewed from the right of Fig. 3,and in part a central vertical section;

Fig. 3 is a. top plan view of the block;

Fig. 4 is a transverse sectional view taken on line IV-IV of Fig. l;

Fig.5 is ar view in elevation of an auxiliary pipe support and transferdevice for use in conjunction with the block and elevator;

Fig. 6 is a transverse sectional view taken on line VI-VI of Fig.- 5;

Fig. 7 illustrates one stage in the cycle of operation of handling drillpipe in accordance with the novel method of this invention; and

Fig. 8 illustrates another stage in the cycle of operation.

Referring to Figs. 1 to4'of the drawings, lt will be observed that thecombined block and elevator, generally designated I, comprises generallyan integral body section 2 provided with a central opening 3 of circularcross-section extending vertically therethrough and so shaped as toprovide pockets or recesses 4 and 5 (Fig. 2) at opposite sides of thecentral opening, in each of which is mounted a pair of sheaves 6, 6.Each pair of sheaves is journaled on a sheave pin I supported at itsinner end by the body 2 and at its outer end by a detachable side plate8. The pin may be secured to the body and plate in any suitable manner,and as herein shown its inner end threadedly engages a tapped bore inthe body, the side plate 8 being bored to receive the pin and having acountersunk recess in its outer face to receive the hexagonal head 9 ofthe pin. A locking device such as that shown at IIJ in Fig. 1 may beprovided, if desired, to prevent inadvertent rotation of the pin. Thesheaves are supported vfor free rotation on the ,pin by suitablebearings II, I"I. The body 2 is provided with upper and lower transversebosses I2 and I3 (Fig. 1) extending parallel with the sheave pins 1, andwhich are bored to receive bolts I4 for securing the side plates 8 tothe body. Spacer plates I5 may be interposed between the sheaves of eachpair, and may be suitably secured to the body 2 to serve as supports forthe central portion of each sheave pin 1.

The elevator or other pipe-supporting means associated with the blockmay assume various forms. In this instance it is built into the block asa component part thereof. The lower portion of the body, intermediatethe axis of the sheave pins 'I and the lower extremity of the block, isrecessed to provide a pocket I6 extending transl`vversely through thebody in a direction parallel 'pipe-supporting jaws I8 and I9.

The jaws I8 and I9 are mounted for limited sliding movement in thepocket I6 toward and away from the axis of the central opening 3, andeach is' provided on its inner vertical face with a semi-cylindricalrecess 2Il. When the jaws are moved inwardlythe recesses 20 cooperate todefine a pipe opening slightly larger than the pipe 2| (Fig. 1), butsmaller than the tooljoint 22 on the upper end of the pipe. The uppersurfaces of the jaws thus form a supporting shoulder engaged by thedownwardly facing shoulder onthe tool joint to support the pipe string.In order to illustrate both the operative and retracted posi-f tions ofthe jaws, in Fig. 4 the aw I8 is shown in the retracted position and thejaw I3 is shown in operative position. It will be understood, however,that this is solely for illustrative purposes and that in practice bothjaws are either in operative or in retracted position...

Means are provided for moving both jaws in unison between their twoextreme positions. Referring to Figs. 1 and 4, actuator cams 25 and 2l'are mounted in the pocket I6 on the outer side of the respective jaws I9 and I 8, each cam having upper and lower pivot bosses 26 and 2l whichare journaled in the body 2 whereby the cams are mounted for pivotalmovement about an upright axis located in the central longitudinal planeof the pocket I 6. In order to move the jaws I 8 and I9 from theirretracted positions to their operative positions, the cams 25 and 25 arerotated through 90 in a clockwise direction, as as viewed, from above,the cams' bearing on the rear or outer faces of the jaws to force theminwardly. In order to retract the jaws, links 28v and 28 are pivotallyconnected at one end to the respective jaws and at their other ends tothe respective cams. As shown in Fig. 1, the upper surface of each jawis recessed downwardly at 28av to provide a pocket to receive therespective link. It is necessary to coordinate the straightline movementof the jaws to the 'compound pivotal movement of the links, and for thispurpose the inner ends of the links are slotted at 29 and 29' to providea sliding pivotal connection between the links and` their respectivejaws.

As previously stated, the two jaws are actuated in unison, and to thisend each jaw is connected to one of a pair of vertically disposed rockshafts 30, 30 (Figs. 1 and 3). As shown in Fig. 1, the lower extremityof each rock shaft is attened on opposite sides at 3l, and engages atransverse slot 32 in the upper extremity of the respective bearingbosses 26 on the jaws. This form of rotation interlock between the jawsand the rock shafts permits removal `of the jaws outwardly through theends of the pocket I6 without disturbing the rock shafts. Other forms ofconnectionbetween the cams and the shafts may, however, be used ifdesired.

As shown in Figs. 1 and 2, the upper surface of the body 2 is recesseddownwardly, and a detachable cover plate 33 cooperates with the recessedupper surface of the body to define a closed recess 34 in which ishoused a plurality of sprockets, herein four in number and designated35, 36 31 and 38, and an endless chain 39 trained over the sprockets.The sprockets 35 and' 31 are keyed to the upper ends of the respectiverock shafts 3D, andthe sprockets 36 and 38 are keyed to stub shafts 40(Fig. 2) mounted in the body and the cover plate. The sprockets 36 and38 are idler sprockets, serving only to direct the chain around thecentral opening 3 in the body. An operating handle II is keyed to thestub shaft on which the sprocket 36 is mounted, and when moved through90 from the position indicated by solid lines in Fig. a to the dottedune position indicated' at Ma, the cams I8 and I6 are moved in unisonfrom their operative positionsto their retracted positions. Reversemovement of the handle obviously rocks the cams in a direction to forcethe jaws into pipe-supporting position. The handle is so located that itis within convenient reach of the derrick man, to enable him to closethe jaws as the empty block approaches the upper end of a stand whenrunning the pipe into the hole, and to enable him to retract the jaws asthe empty block starts to descend when coming lout of the hole.

The combined block and elevator is adaptable to use with various sizesofdrill pipe and casing, simply by substituting jaws Iand I9 havingrecesses 20 corresponding to various pipe sizes. Re mcval and insertionof the jaws is facilitated by the provision of cover and bearing plates4'2 and I 42' detachably secured to the body 2 and closing the outerends of the pocket I6 in which the jaws are mounted. It will be noted byreference to Figs. 1 and 4 that the inner half of each bearing for thepivot bosses 26 and 21 on the cams 25 and 25 is formed in the body 2,the outer half of each bearing being on the plates t2 and 42'. Thus bydetaching the `cover plates the cams and the jaws connected thereto maybe withdrawn laterally from the pocket I6. A different set of jaws maythen be connected to the cams and the assemblies inserted in thepockets. As mentioned above, the flattened faces 3i on the lower ends ofthe rock shafts 30 and 3|', and the slots 32 in the pivot bosses 26 onthe cams, permit removal of the cams without disturbing the pins andprovide a driving connection between the shafts and the cams when theparts are assembled.

It will be noted that the upper and lower ends of the central opening inthe block are flared outwardly at 43 and 44, to-eliminate any sharpshoulders on which projections on the pipe, such as tool joints orrubber protectors, might hang up. As shown in the left half of Fig. 4,when the jaws are retracted they are disposed wholly outside the wall ofthe opening 3, so that they will not interfere with the free passage ofthe pipe therethrough as the block moves upwardly or downwardly over thepipe. As shown in Figs. 2 and 4, the cover plates 42 and 42 extend thefull width of the block and thus not only closethe ends of the pocket I6but also enclose the lower portions of the sheave recesses 4 and 5 inthe body. The upper portions of the recesses 4 and 5 are enclosed byseparate end plates 45 and 45' detachably secured to the body.

As previously mentioned, the combined block and elevator just describedls used only for supporting and raising or lowering the drill string,

auxiliary mechanism being provided for handling the individual stands ofpipe while they are disconnected from the drill string. It will beobvious that the auxiliary mechanism may assume various forms differingwidely in character and mode of operation. The essential functions ofsuch a device are: (1) it must be capable of being quickly and easilyattached to and detached from the upper end of the stand of pipe; (2) itmust be capable of lifting the stand from the racking platform through adistance sufficient to cause the lower end of the stand to clear theblock when thelatter is in its lowered position close to the table; (3)it must be manipulable into a. position laterally offset from `thecenter line of the derrick. in orderto transfer'the stands of annue pipeto and from theracking platform; and (4) it should be of such acharacter that it 'may be easily and safely manipulated and controlledby the derrick man. l

In Figs. 5 and 6 there is shown oneform which such a transfer device mayassume. Reference" character 50 designates a piston and cylinderassembly comprising a cylinder Il having a bail or f eye 52 at its upperend for suspending the device at to a reduced section I4 of the shankil. The upper extremity oi' the reduced shank section l is threaded toreceive a nut I!v which overlies the bearing 02 for supporting the shankby the bearing housing l1.

The piston and "cylinder assembly il is shown as of the single-actingrtype and is provided with a single fluid inlet and outlet connectionthrough which actuating fluid may be supplied to and released from thecylinder under control of suitable valve mechanism (not shown) locatedtilting of the bearing housing relative tothe ,Y

clevis in all directions.

A spear, generally designated ll, isrotatably supported by the bearinghousing, and comprises a shank 6| supported on a bearing l! in thehousing, and a sleeve `63 mounted for limited rotative and axialmovement on the shank. Al pair of diametrically opposed. 'downwardlydivergingv backs of the wedges to retain the latter in en-l gagementwith their respective seats. An arcuate groove 10 is formed in the innerwall of the sleeve `t3 adjacent its lower end, and each wedge isprovided with an outwardly projecting shoulder 1I at its upper endengaging the groove lll to support the wedges and at the same timepermit rotation of the sleeve'. relative tol the wedges and permitradially inward and outward movement of the wedges relative totheJsleeve. Downward movement of the wedges relative to the shank 6l islimited by a ,collar 12 .secured to the lower end of the shank. as by acap screw 13. The outer faces of the wedges are serrated at 14 andtapered downwardly to conform to the tapered threads 15 of the tooljoint box 22 at the upper end of the stand of pipe (Fig. i).

An inclined slot 16 is formed in the sleeve il and is engaged by a pin'I'I secured to the shank 6I, the arrangement being such that uponrelative rotation between the shank and' sleeve;V through a small arcthe sleeve is raised and the wedges 66 and 61 are drawn upwardly and inwardly along the wedge faces 04 and In this manner the spear maylbeattached to the tool joint box 22 by engagement of the serrations 14with the tool -joint threads '15, the weight of the stand of pipe, whensupported by the spear, urging the wedges downwardly and outwardly alongthe wedge faces 64 and e5 and thus forcing them into tight wedgingengagement with the tool joint threads. Upon rotation of the sleeve 63relative to the shank il in a counterclockwise direction, as viewed fromabove, the wedges are retracted, and the spear may then be raised clearof the tool joint box by the cylinder and piston assembly B0.

A pair of operating handles Il and Il are provided on the shank 6I andthe sleeve respectively, in positions convenient for manipulation by thederrick man. As shown, the handle Il is formed integral with the sleeve63, whereas the handle 80 is provided with a hub portion l! keyed withinconvenient reach of the derrick man.

Referring now to Figs. 7 and 8, the manner in which the novel apparatusincorporating' this invention is used is as follows:

When running thedrill string into the wellV after replacing a worn bit,the derrick man, sta tioned on the usual monkey board il. successivelyshifts the upper end of each stand of pipe to the position indicated bythe stand 2lb in Fig. 8;' wherein it rests against the finger board ilinI position to be connected to the spear Il. At

the outset, the combined block and elevator I is in its loweredposition, telescoped over the pipe Il supported by the rotary table 9J.After swinging the transfer device over into alignment with the stand ofpipe resting against the finger board, the derrick man stabs the spearIl into the tool joint box at the upper end of the stand and thenmanipulates the ccntrolvalve of the cylinder Il to raise-the stand andallow it to swing into the position indicated by the stand Ila in Fig.'1. From this position. the stand Zia is lowered into engagement withthe pipe 2| by suitable manipulation of the cylinder control valve.Thereupon the block I is hoisted by the main drawworks to the positionindicated in Fig. 8. As soon as the block has been hoisted clear of thejoint between the stand Zia and the pipe 2I, the joint is made up in theusual manner, this operation being performed while the block istraveling upwardly,

with the stand Zia passing through the central opening l in the block.In this manner, no time is lost in waiting for the empty block to beraised to the upper end of thestring.

As the block approaches the upper end of the stand lla, the derrick manreleases the spear Il from the stand by manipulation of the handles eland Il, and raises the spear clear of the stand. and as the operatinghandle 4I on the block comes within his reach he shifts it to movey thepipesupporting jaws Il and I! into operative position. Meanwhile, duringascent of the block, the derrick man has shifted the upper end of thenext stand 2lb inwardly to the position shown in Fig. 8 wherein it restsagainst the fingerboard 93 in readiness for connection to the spear.When the elevator jaws il and I8 engage the tool joint shoulder, theweight of the pipe string isV transwedges i6 and t1, since theserrations on the wedges will ratchet downwardly over the tool jointthreads as'l the spear is lowered. As soonv as the block and the pipestring supported thereby are lowered to the position indicated in Fig.7, the derrick man manipulates the cylinder control case the stand 2lbwould not be resting against l0 the ilngerboard 9|, the derrick manhaving shifted it to the position shown in Fig. 'I during ascent of theblock and pipe string. As soon as the slips 92 are set in the table, theblock is lowered, whereupon the derrick man shifts the operating handleII to retract the elevator jaws I8 and I9 to permit the block to slidefreely down over the stand. The derrick man then lowers the spear intoengagement with the tool joint box on the stand 21a, in readiness forpicking `up the stand as soon as the joint 22 at the lower end of thestand is broken.

During the descent of the empty block and elevator, the joint 22 isbroken and spun out in the usual manner, this operation requiringapproximately the same time as is required for the empty 'block todescend by gravity. When the l mechanism, and of the novel method ofhandling pipe therewith, it will be apparent that numerous advantagesare gained. The time element is an important factor when pulling astring of drill pipe from the well to change bits, since the timeconsumed is in eiiect shut-down time in so far as drilling progress isconcerned. The time which is wasted while waiting for the empty block,hook and elevator to ascend or descend in the derrick, in accordancewith the conventional practice,

. constitutes from to 25% of the elapsed time block reaches the lowerposition indicated in Fig.

1, the detached stand 2 la is raised by the cylinder Il) clear of theblock and is swung over to the racking platform and lowered into theposition indicated by the stand 2lb in Fig. 8. The handle 4I ismanipulated by one of thecrew members on the derrick floor to move theelevator jaws I8 and I9 into operative position, whereupon the string ofpipe is hoisted by the block into the position shown in Fig. 8. Thiscycle of operations is repeated for each stand of pipe.

The novel block and elevator I may be connected to the rotary swivelduring the drilling operation by the use of a swivel adapter such as iscommonly usedto connect the swivel to a conventional type of drill pipeelevator. The term swivel adapterfis used to denote a short stem orshank, of the same diameter as the drill pipe, which is connected at itslower end to the swivel bail and is provided at its upper end with anenlarged head forming a downwardly facing shoulder, engaged by theelevator. A swivel adapter of this type may be engaged by the elevatorjaws I8 and I9- to support the swivel and the drill string suspendedtherefrom.

It is not contemplated that the apparatus described herein would be usedto pick up single sections of 'drill pipe from a horizontal position onthe derrick iioor, or to lay them down. This may be accomplished in anyone of several ways, such, for example, as by theV use of a light-dutypickup or rathole elevator connected to the catline. Y It will beobvious that the novel block and elevator described herein may also beused when running a string of casing into the well, it being understoodthat suitably shaped jaws I8 and I9 will be provided to handle thevarious sizes and types of casing.. The maximum size of casing which canbe handled will, of course, be determined by the size of the centralopening 3 in the block and by the type of jaws used. This opening ispreferably atleast as large as the opening in the rotary table masterbushing, so that any 'size of casing, drill pipe, etc. which can be runthrough the master bushing can be handled by the block and elevator.

From the foregoing description of the novel block and elevator and theauxiliary transfer `municatlng with oppositely disposed of one cycle ofoperations. By the aforedescribed use of the novel apparatusincorporating this invention, this time delay is eliminated and hence a20% to 25% reduction in overall time for running-out and running-in iseffected.

The overall length of the equipment used Vin supporting and handlingdrill pipe and casing in an oil well rig is becoming increasinglyimportant in view of the recent trend to rigs of the portable orsemi-portable type having derricks or masts which may be collapsed,folded or otherwise readily broken down for transport from well site towell site. Such derricks 4or masts are necessarily made as short aspossible, and hence any reduction in the overall length of the equipmentsuspended from the crown block is a decided advantage. The use of theapparatus described herein eliminates the usual hook, links andelevator, which average approximately fifteen feet in length for a rigused in drilling medium depth wells. The net saving in overall lengthis, of course, the difference between the length of the hook, links andelevator andthe length of the cylinder assembly 50 and the spear 80.Even when a conventional pipe rack 94 and monkey board 9B are used.requiring a stroke of about 5 feet for the piston 53, a saving of atleast 5 feet in overall length may be effected. By providing a specialpipe rack at a suitable level to reduce the stroke of the piston to aminimum, this saving in overall length may be very materially increased.

The savings in time and in overall length are considered of paramountimportance. Other advantages `will, however, be apparent to thosefamiliar with drilling rigs and their operation.

I claim:

1. Well pipe handling apparatus comprising side and end walls defining ahousing, a tubular member extending centrally through said housing andcarried thereby and defining a pipe passageway, inner walls in saidhousing cooperating with said side walls to define sheave compartmentsat opposite sides of said tubular member, sheaves mounted in saidcompartments, y said tubular member having openings therein comlateralguideways in said housing, and pipe supporting jawscarried by saidguideways and movable laterally through said openings into and out ofsaid pipe passageway, whereby a pipe may bev supported by said jaws whenin their inner positions, and free passage of a pipe through saidtubular member is permitted when said jaws are retracted.

2. Weil pipe handling apparatus comprising side and end walls defining ahousing, a tubular member extending centrally through said housing andcarried thereby and defining a pipe passageway, inner walls in saidhousing cooperating with said side Walls to define sheave compartmentsat opposite sides of said tubular member, sheaves mounted in saidcompartments on axes intersecting the axis of said tubular member, saidtubular air-1,846

ll' Wmember having openings therein communicating with oppositelydisposed lateral guideways in said lhousing, and pipe supporting jawscarried by said guideways and movable laterally through said openingsinto and out of said pipe passageway, Ywhereby a pipe may be supportedby said jaws when in their inner positions, and free passage of Va pipethrough said tubplar member is permitted f sheaves mounted in saidcompartments, op-

positely disposed guideways formed in said housing and tubularnmemberand communicating with said pipe passageway, the lower surfaces of saidguideways providing load-supporting shoulders, and pipe supporting jawssupported by said ,Y shoulders for lateral movement between innerpipe-supporting positions and -outer retracted po:-

. sitions permitting free passage of a pipe through said passageway. Y

4. Apparatus as set forth in claim 1, wherein said pipe supporting Jawswhen movedninto said passageway cooperate to define an annular pipesupporting seat,

5. ApparatusY as set forth in claim 1 and including jaw actuating meansfor moving said jaws in unison.

6. A traveling block structure for handling well pipe comprising: a wellpipe receiving tube; lateral ways intersecting said tube near its lowerextremity; pipe gripping elements slidable :in said ways to and fromgripping engagement with a pipe contained withinsaid tube; control meansfor said pipe gripping elements including a housing in the forni of ahollow flange located at the upper end of said tube, shafts extendingupwardly from said elements into said housing, a control handleprotruding from said housing, and drive lmeans withinffsaid housingbetween said control handle and said shafts; and sets of sheaves mountedat opposite sides of said tube.

7. A traveling block structure for handling well pipe comprising: a wellpipe receiving tube; control means for said pipe gripping elementsincluding a housing in the form of a hollow flange located at the upperend of said tubeshafts extending upwardly from said elements into saidhousing, a control handle protruding from said housing, and drive meanswithin said housing between said control handle and said shafts; a pairof sheave housings at opposite sides of said tube and Ways incorporatingsaid control means housing, and includingV mounting structures spacedfrom said tube; journals supported between said tube and mountingstructures; and sheaves mounted on said journals.

8. Apparatus for handling sectional well pipe while inserting andremoving it from a well comprising, in combination, main hoistingapparatus adapted to be suspended in a derrick or the like for raisingand lowering the pipe string, and auxiliary pipe-supporting meansconnectible with the upper section of the pipe string for supportingsaid upper section when disconnected from the pipe string, saidauxiliary support means including hydraulic hoisting means'VY andpipe-engaging means supported thereby, said hydraulic hoisting means andsaid pipe-engaging means being suspended in the derrick normally incoaxial relation to said main hoisting apparatus.

9. Apparatusas set forthein claim 8, and including a rotatableconnection Vbetween said hydraulic hoisting 'means and saidpipe-engaging means.

10. Apparatus as set forth in claim 8, wherein said pipe-engaging meanscomprises means engageable with the threads of the pipe coupling at theupper extremity of the pipe section for supporting the pipe section.

l Y DON 1i'. JOHNS.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the le ofthis patent:

UNITED STATES PATIENTS Number Date Kelly Mar. 23, 1943

